Warming up your car (Fairbanks, Wrangell: trip , work, house)

[mal_flisk]

My mechanics tell me that a cold engine block can not burn fuel as efficiently as a warm block, and that the combustion cycle (following compression) with unburned fuel is inefficiently attempting to push the cylinder down and that the exhaust of any unburned particles is the major cause of pollution from internal combustion engines. Now, I know that there are smarter people out there, but my mechanics/electrician/welder/lineman guys work on these every day. And even went to schools (Idaho State Power Generation techs x 2, University of ND Power generation x 1, Cummins 25 years, Detroit Diesel 18 years, etc, etc) But I am SURE that other opinions may matter more. The state urges us to "Plug in at 20" nightly on the TV. I am also sure that THEY are wrong too. I have been told so here. I learned in my discussions with the mechanic at the Ford dealer, that my car engine will last longer if I do NOT immediately drive off after starting it in cold weather. I can and do, usually, bite my tongue in these discussions. But I cannot sit idly by and watch someone denigrate normal practice and common sense as bad habits. The cost of producing a new car engine to replace one with excessive engine wear is a minimum of about $2000 for a short block, not including labor. The oil in an engine settles into the oil pan overnight, and becomes VERY viscous (can you say cold molasses?) in cold temps. The block heater and oil pan heater keep the oil in a fluid state when they are used. To demonstrate this, take a gallon of vegetable oil and leave it on the doorstep overnight. Now, attempt to pour out of the plastic bottle come morning. If you want to save the money, use used cooking oil. It is thick enough to NOT coat the moving parts on the first several cycles that the oil pump finally gets to head. Heat is produced on the unlubricated parts, and without lubricant, the leftover particulates (unburned carbon and scraped metal) will then then score (scratch) unneeded items like cylinder liners, piston rings etc, etc. Putting an unnecessary load on the internal combustion engine exacerbates this severely.

If you don't preheat with a plug-in, then starting it in idle is better than starting and leaving immediately. I know that sarcasm doesn't become my milder nature, and it may have been ham-handed at best. Still, bad information is worse than no information at all. And I DON'T like watching decent people getting bashed by Mr. Know-it-all.

[warptman]

lol...You remind me of Dr. Science, remember, he knows more than you do (thats right). Oh, he has a Master's Degree in Science.

[mal_flisk]

Just trying to refute some bad stuff partner. It gets a little deep in here sometimes

[Arcticthaw]

Normally I will take good old farmboy common sense knowledge over science. Science is good, but if you want to make something work from nothing get a farmer involved.

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by warptman

lol...You remind me of Dr. Science, remember, he knows more than you do (thats right). Oh, he has a Master's Degree in Science.

You know what, that totally reminds me. You know who I love? Bill Nye the Science Guy. When I grow up, I wanna' be Xa'at the Science Lass.

[mal_flisk]

But of course! Who else plants a seed in dirt and gets food out of nightsoil and water!

[Rance]

Good ol Bill Nye. I think I liked that show more than the kids.

[mal_flisk]

I grew up with "The Way Things Work" in 2 volumes in my house as a kid.

[Arcticthaw]

Well it finially warmed up to 0 so I guess I can now turn off the truck.
Only 27 trips to the gas starion to keep it warm.










yes I am just kidding.

[warptman]

I remember 3-2-1 Contact, good show.